At the Jean Moulin middle school in the French city of Marseille, hands are raised, questions are asked, and answers are given. There is also discipline and respect.
The school is in one of Marseille’s poorest neighbourhoods. Most of the students have financial aid and their parents earn under 1,000 euros per month.
It’s also what is known as a priority education school.
“The most important thing is that there are less students than in a regular middle school where you can have up to 27, 28, 29 or 30. Here there is a limit of 24 by class. It’s more comfortable this way.
‘And also we’ve put in place groups based on needs. This means they’re by groups of competence. With two classes, we created three groups of competence, “ Arnaud Sallaberry a teacher at the school explained.
The priority education system was introduced in 1982 to help schools in poorer areas of France. It has already been reformed twice in three years.
Dominique Duperray has been the school’s principal for five years. For him the changes since he arrived are striking.
“Before the reforms, 40 percent of the students passed their middle school exam and barely 50 percent went on to high school. Today, we have 70 percent and sometimes even more who pass their exam, and 100 percent who go on to high school, some in a general high school, others in a vocational one.
‘So the fact that we get extra funding as a priority education school, plus the involvement of the school staff in constantly innovating the school curriculum, allows us to improve our students’ school career,” stressed Dominique Duperray Principal of the school.
But is this school more the exception than the rule when it comes to France’s state educational system?
Especially when a recent report which evaluates school systems among OECD countries revealed that France is in first place when it comes to inequalities in its school system.
There are more than 9000 primary and middle schools in France which are classified priority education. One out of five children attend these schools.
Euronews went to Bobigny, on the outskirts of Paris. Our request to film priority schools here were turned down. The official reason: they’ve been inundated with requests since the report.
“How did France become number one when it comes to inequalities in its school system among OECD members? Here we are in one of Paris’ most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and again we were not allowed to film inside the school. So we asked its director to come outside and talk to us,” reported euronews’ correspondent Valerie Zabrinski.
Véronique Decker has worked in Bobigny for 30 years. And although her primary school is classified priority education, she says she’s seen little extra financing.
All her students come from immigration backgrounds. Their families live in social housing. She is not surprised about France’s ranking.
“There is no equality between public and private schools. The private schools are being favoured by
